A model bedroom at Greenfield Senior Living of Lansdale is designed to give a resident some decorating ideas, noted executive director Richard O’Brien. Residents are free to bring their own furniture if they choose to.
Gary Puleo — digital first media

LANSDALE >> The former Spring Meadows went through a gradual but extensive makeover with new carpeting, fresh paint and warmly inviting decorative accents and was ready to face the world under new ownership as Greenfield Senior Living of Lansdale in January.

The for-profit facility located at 1800 Walnut St., Lansdale, joined the fold of 19 Greenfield communities, including a location in Schwenksville, scattered throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and the company’s home base of Virginia.

For a monthly charge that includes room and amenities such as housekeeping, three meals a day and activities, 64 personal care units and 56 memory care units — compact efficiency-type apartments, as it were — are available to renters of any age, long or short term, under a doctor’s directive, noted executive director Richard O’Brien.

“We don’t exclude because of age but people need a doctor’s say that you need assisted living and you need to provide appropriate documentation. You can’t just walk in off the street and say you want to live here. “Unfortunately, there are some people under 55 who need help,” said O’Brien, who indicated that customized pricing can include any of three levels of personal care, as needed.

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“That is pretty typical throughout the industry. There are for-profit and nonprofit when it comes to senior living care, and that’s how it’s organized from a business standpoint. Then there are three sections, if you will: independent, assisted living and memory care. You can have all three in your building, but in this case, it’s assisted living, or personal care, and memory care.”

“Senor living is a kind of generic term, because if Greenfield wanted to have independent living, they could do that. If it were named Greenfield Assisted Living it would confuse people if they decided to buy an independent living building. I don’t know what the company’s intentions are but I know they plan to buy more communities,” he said.

Units can include both a bedroom and living room if desired, or a single room, and either a shared or private bathroom, O’Brien explained, leading the way into a model room as meticulously appointed as any model home would be.

Many residents will bring their own furniture, he noted.

“There are no kitchens in any of the rooms because we worry about people leaving the stove burners on,” O’Brien said, adding that Greenfield offers all options for senior living.

“We have independent people living here; they’re in their 90s and don’t need memory care but the daughter might be afraid that mom or dad will fall in the shower, so we offer stand-by assistance, which means a staff member is in the room as they’re getting in or out of the shower. It’s basically independent living but with a little bit of a guard around. We keep an eye on you and remind you to come to meals,” he said.

“Or someone might be able to do everything on their own but they want the three meals a day. Or a daughter is worried if mom isn’t taking her medication or eating. It’s all more or less according to what you or family is asking for.”

A nursing staff is available around the clock to hand out medications and offer treatment, O’Brien noted.

“If you have an open wound they’ll treat it, or if you have edema they’ll make sure you take your medicine.”

Care aides can assist with bathing and dressing, and a doctor is on site periodically.

There is also sometimes an emotional component to be considered, O’Brien pointed out.

“It can be depressing to be by yourself if a husband or wife dies. Here we try to draw people out and get them active. We have a director of activities for that,” he said.

As important as meals and personal care are to many residents, so is the fate of their beloved pets when they make the decision to move here. The good news is that Fluffy is welcome to come along too, as long as he or she is smallish, under 25 pounds or so, O’Brien noted.

“The idea is that pets can be very therapeutic,” he said. “The stipulation is that you have to take care of your pet yourself.”